What is the radioactive decay process of U? Sedimentary rock is dated by its association in the geologic column with igneous and metamorphic rock which can be dated by radioactive dating techniques.

Using Potassium to Date Rock. Alpha decay involves the loss of two protons and two neutrons from the nucleus it is beta decay which involves the loss of an electron, and other particle changes.

Why is uranium used to date rocks? Also useful for dating the Pleistocene Epoch Ice Ages.

As seen in the tables above, there are three isotopes of uranium. Can Uranium be used to make nuclear bombs? It can and it is Although U is not very radioactive -- it'ssometimes called depleted Uranium -- it is used as a "tamper" inthe core of nuclear warhead.

See the links below. Its use as a tamper greatly increasesthe yield energy of the device. You can make it easier for us to review and, hopefully, publish your contribution by keeping a few points in mind.

To date a sedimentary rock, it is necessary to isolate a few unusual minerals if present which formed on the seafloor as the rock was cemented.

It is possible that uranium could undergo spontaneous fissionand there are a number of possible fission fragments that could appear, along with one or more neutronsbut this is most unusual. Explain how the radioactive decay of isotopes is used to determine the age of rocks?